.
[-Continuation-]
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[-Hachiman's POV-]
I suggested. "If you are bothered by those opinions, why not use this opportunity to prove them wrong? It might be more fun that way."
Isshiki's eyes widened momentarily as she considered the idea. "Prove them wrong, huh?"
She echoed, her voice trailing off as she mulled over the idea.
Ms. Hiratsuka straightened up and pushed away from it with renewed energy while holding up her silver wristwatch successfully drawing all eyes to her with sudden movement.
"It looks like we are not reaching a solution today." She announced, her voice carrying the weight of finality.
The statement hung in the air, a gentle but firm nudge towards conclusion.
Similarly, a shift appeared as others also began to move, stretching slightly as if preparing to wrap up.
"Yeah, I think I am beat from all the talking." I said, stretching both my arms in the air while still seated in my chair.
Ms. Hiratsuka nodded, her dark eyes sweeping across the room. "Alright, let's call it a day then."
I turned my gaze to Isshiki, my expression neutral. "...and you, lill junior, decide and come back with an answer tomorrow."
Senior Meguri, who had been a silent pillar of support throughout, offered Isshiki a warm smile. "Whatever path you choose, Isshiki, know that we are behind you."
A thoughtful expression crossed Isshiki's face, clearly mulling over the advice. "I appreciate that. I will definitely sleep on it and let you all know my decision come morning."
Yukinoshita, ever the voice of reason, added her own counsel. "Remember, Isshiki, the most important thing is to stay true to your own convictions."
With that, Isshiki and Ms. Hiratsuka set off, and Yuigahama led the way out, exchanging lighthearted banter. Senior Meguri followed, her demeanor calm but purposeful.
I watched as Yuigahama reached the door, her orange hair bouncing with each step.
"Hang in there, Iroha! Can't wait to hear what you decide!" She chirped, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing in the room.
Hey, that's quite a bit of pressure you're putting on her.
With that final encouragement, the door clicked shut.
As Yuigahama made her way back to her seat, I braced myself for something that I knew was coming.
Yukinoshita's sharp voice cut through the air like a katana through rice paper.
"I see you are determined to make things difficult." Her eyes, cold as Arctic ice, bore into me.
"Simply imposing your will on others won't lead to a constructive outcome." Yukinoshita's tone was sharp, as if addressing someone who has been causing trouble or making unreasonable demands.
I suppressed a sigh.
?....?Yuigahama, caught in the crossfire, looked utterly lost.
Her gaze ping-ponged between Yukinoshita and me, trying to piece together what she might have missed. It was clear she had no idea what Yukinoshita was referring to.
However, in her mind she knew - there was only one person in the room capable of provoking Yukinoshita to such a level of frustration.
Yuigahama's gaze then shifted to me, her expression shifting to one of accusation.
"What did you do this time, Hikki?" Yuigahama demanded, her voice tinged with concern and suspicion.
I almost wanted to laugh.
Why was I always the default culprit? But then again, in this case, she wasn't entirely wrong.
Before I could formulate a suitably evasive response, Yuigahama's face lit up with what she probably thought was a moment of clarity.
"Oh... Hikki, if you become the president, what about the club?"
"...." I blinked, momentarily thrown by this unexpected tangent.
"When did I ever mention becoming president?" I asked, injecting a note of innocence into my voice.
"But you promised Is-!" Yuigahama began, but she was interrupted, not by me but by Yukinoshita.
"Yui, do you honestly believe Hikigaya would willingly shoulder such a burdensome role?" Yukinoshita's words were tinged with a hint of amusement, as if the very idea was absurd.
I had to hand it to her. Yukinoshita had me pegged.
The very thought of taking on such a responsibility made me want to crawl under my bed and hibernate for a year.
Yuigahama's face displayed a dawning comprehension. "Come to think of it... were you lying, Hikki?"
Sensing an opportunity, I pounced on it with barely concealed relief.
"Iroha will end up as president anyway, so technically, it is not a lie." I said, unable to keep a hint of smugness from creeping into my voice.
"That's still what you call a lie." Yuigahama retorted, her brow furrowing adorably.
Yukinoshita, sharp as ever, honed in on the core of my statement with laser-like precision.
"And what makes you so certain Iroha will opt for the presidency?"
The question hung in the air, heavy with implication, clearly sensing there was more to my confidence than I was letting on.
I met her gaze with unflinching confidence and declared. "Because I will ensure it happens."
As silence fell over the room, I found myself pondering the question.
Why was I so sure? The answer lay in a subtle but significant shift in my approach.
In the original course of events, or 'the plot', I had resorted to an elaborate scheme.
It involved a great deal of behind-the-scenes work, creating fake nominations to convince Iroha that she had widespread support.
….I don't remember correctly, but I also put my bet on her pride.
It was only after this extensive manipulation that she finally decided to become president.
But this time, I had chosen a more direct approach. While I had still stirred at her pride, my focus had shifted. Instead of manufacturing false evidence of support, I had concentrated on forcing her into a decision-making mindset when, in reality, she didn't necessarily need to make a choice at all.
It was a nuanced but crucial difference.
When Iroha first came to the club room, her mind was singularly focused on finding ways to avoid the presidential election.
Her entire attitude screamed about evasion, dodging responsibility, and finding an escape route.
But as she left the room today, her thought process had undergone a fundamental transformation. It was no longer about evasion. It was about choice.
By presenting her with an option - or more accurately, the illusion of choice - I had subtly altered her perspective.
I had made her believe she was in a position to make decisions for herself, that she was in control. The irony, of course, was that in doing so, I had gently steered her towards a decision she had initially been determined to avoid.
Rather than a burden to be avoided?
In her mind, the narrative had shifted from 'How do I dodge this responsibility?' to 'Should I embrace this opportunity?'
And once that mental transition occurs, which did, half the battle is won. Because now, instead of looking for ways out, she will be contemplating reasons to step up.
Her pride, ambition, the desire to prove herself - all these previously dormant factors would now come into play, pushing her towards the very outcome she initially resisted.
"Is this really how you intend to solve this crisis?" Yukinoshita asked, her face contorting into an expression that was half exasperation and half whine.
I didn't bother explaining my reasoning further.
Knowing Yukinoshita, she had likely pieced together my intentions from the moment I started speaking to Iroha.
Her sharp mind was both a blessing and a curse in situations like these. It explained why she hadn't intervened, choosing instead to let my plan play out. Still, I couldn't resist pushing her a bit.
"What, would you prefer we shut the club?" I asked, feigning innocence as I probed for any alternative solutions she might have been holding back.
Yukinoshita's response was swift and sharp.
"Why would I want that? I... I cherish this place." She looked away abruptly, but not before I caught a glimpse of something vulnerable in her eyes.
"The club is disbanding?!" Yuigahama's voice rose in panic, her face a portrait of abject horror.
Leave it to Yuigahama to latch onto the most dramatic and incorrect interpretation of our conversation.
Before I could correct her, Yuigahama had already launched herself at Yukinoshita, nearly toppling the other girl's chair in her desperation for comfort.
"Yukinon, what's happening?" She wailed, clinging to Yukinoshita like a lifeline.
That's what I am saying. If you are unsure about anything - why jump to random conclusions.
Yukinoshita, momentarily startled by the sudden physical contact, recovered enough to pat Yuigahama's head comfortingly.
"Hikigaya was merely being his usual obtuse self." Yukinoshita reassured, her voice softening. "The club isn't going anywhere. Ever."
"Hey now." I protested, unable to keep the indignation from my voice. "Don't you think I deserve some praise for saving the club? Why am I being called an obtuse one here?"
My protest went unacknowledged as Yukinoshita shifted her focus to Yuigahama, embarking on what I knew would be a futile attempt to clarify the situation.
I say 'futile' because, well, let's just say Yukinoshita's explanations and Yuigahama's comprehension were rarely on the same wavelength.
I watched with a mixture of humor and resignation as Yukinoshita launched into what I am sure she thought was a clear and concise explanation of recent events.
Her words flowed with precision, each point logically connected to the next.
The only problem? Yuigahama's mind wasn't exactly built to appreciate such intricate compositions.
I could almost see the moment when Yuigahama's eyes glazed over, her brain valiantly trying to keep up with Yukinoshita's rapid-fire logic before eventually admitting defeat.
It was a familiar sight, one that never failed to amuse me despite its predictability.
As Yukinoshita's explanation wound down, I braced myself for Yuigahama's response.
With her, you never quite knew what random fragment of information might have taken root in her mind.
"Wow, Hikki, I had no idea you were so fond of our club." Yuigahama chirped, leaning forward on the table.
I glanced at Yukinoshita, now fully engrossed in her book, before responding to Yuigahama.
"There are only a handful of things I would classify as likeable." I said, deliberately vague.
The truth was, the 'service club' itself didn't quite make it onto that short list.
I wasn't particularly invested in the club's future, not really.
But the people in it... well, that was an entirely different matter.
Realizing we had spent more time than intended on this conversation, I checked my phone.
I announced, tilting the phone so they could see the time. "I think it's time we wrapped this up."
Turning towards Yukinoshita, I added. "And since we have that errand to run, we should probably get moving."
….
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[To be continued…]
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